Intel working on a dual booting Windows/Android device, sources claim

Windows dual booting Android? Sounds like something many have long wanted, and it could be in the works. Sources tell The Verge that Intel is planning a dual booting device (or devices) known internally as “Dual OS”. If even the name sounds familiar, you’re on the right track.

Last year, Samsung introduced us to the Ativ Q, a device which could dual boot Windws 8 and Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. To launch Android, you used an app called — you guessed it — Dual OS. From there, Android would open up, and away you went. You could even pin Android apps to the Windows home screen, making it a pretty stellar cross platform offering. The device was eventually shelved due to patent issues, and the Dual OS from Intel may find a similar fate.

Analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insight and Strategy tells The Verge“Microsoft does not want this to happen.” He went on to note that he feels it send the wrong message to Windows Developers, as Microsoft has been more interested in cobbling Windows Phone and Desktop together lately. The presence of a more robust mobile OS on a Windows device would undoubtedly cause some consternation, both from Developers and companies involved. Google could hamstring the operation if they felt in unduly fragmented the Android space.

Good for a small segment of consumers, but seemingly undesired by the corporate entities involved. Though apps like Bluestacks exist, they aren’t officially Android, and don’t have the same issues. Similar effects can be obtained with AirDroid, so Android on a Windows device isn’t new. The problem is, when it’s built right in, is it Windows — or Android? It sounds like Microsoft is taking issue with that.

Said to be announced at CES next week, Moorhead believes Microsoft may be pressuring manufacturers to cancel their plans with this device. We’ll be on site, so if it’s there, we’ll be sure to check it out. If this Dual OS isn’t around, we’ll be sure to note it’s absence all the same.

This would be great. Then maybe we could have a quality dual-boot tablet that isn’t one of those Chinese ones with Windows 7 and Android 2.2

symbolset

What a wonderful idea. All the apps and convenience of Android, all the costs and viruses and maintenance of Windows. No wait. That is the opposite of wonderful.

http://www.gadgetaddicted.com/ GadgetAddicted_Jack

Personally I would prefer a dual-booting Android/Windows tablet. Extra points if it had a Wacom digitizer equipped on it. I enjoy Android devices tremendously and have owned too many to count, but it isn’t quite ready for prime time when it comes to actual business productivity. This would give me the fun stuff from Android and the serious stuff from Windows.

Cal Rankin

It would be nice for Microsoft to incite developers into porting Android apps to Windows Phone/Windows 8. That would add more apps into the Windows Store, and there wouldn’t be as much need for a dual-boot tablet, but Microsoft wouldn’t object as much to a dual-boot tablet if most Android apps were in the Windows Store.